Pyrophoric lighter



INVENTOR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 L BOLLE PYROPHORIC LIGHTER V I M l ,U

March 3, 1953 Flled Jan 25, 1950 March 3, 1953 1.. BOLLE 2,629,998

PYROPHORIC LIGHTER Filed Jan. 25, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR Lon Belle.

Z ZW

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1953 PYROPHORIC LIGHTER Lon Bolle, Geneva, Switzerland, assignor of onehalf to La Nationale S. A., Geneva, Switzerland Application January 25, 1950, Serial No. 140,383 In Switzerland February 4, 1949 12 Claims.

All lighters with a spring actuated cover are more or less liable to open accidentally in a pocket and even though such an opening does not produce lighting (as is the case with lighters having a friction wheel actuated by hand), it does not reduce the inconvenience of allowing the petrol (benzene) to evaporate in the pocket and distributing a disagreeable odour therein.

A number of devices have been proposed which use a single movement of the actuating member for applying to the lock, which retains the spring cover in its closed position, the necessary action for opening the lighter. In lighters, for example in which the friction wheel is secured to a driving knob, there is used a slight transverse movement, or a slight rotation of the driving knob for releasing the cover from its locking device. Of these two solutions it is obviously the second which affords the greatest security relatively to accidental opening of the cover in the pocket by reason of the fact:

1. That it is more diflicult to produce accldentally the rotation of the driving wheel than its transverse movements obtained by simple compression of the lighter in a pocket, and

2. That the friction applied by the pyrophoric element to the friction wheel opposes quite naturally a predetermined resistance to rotation of the said driving wheel. Meanwhile, it occurs that when placing a lighter of this latter type,

for example, in the pocket of a waistcoat the driving wheel is caused to turn accidentally thus producing the opening of the cover without noticing this.

.The present invention has for its subject a lighter with a spring actuated cover, comprising a locking device retaining the cover in the closed position against the action of its spring, an actuating member adapted to actuate the friction wheel on the one hand and a movable element of the locking device on the other hand. This lighter tends to obviate the disadvantage referred to by the fact that the actuating member actuates the movable part of the locking device by means of a coupling of which the two parts are separated when the actuating member is in the position of rest and actuated solely in rotation about its axis, and by the fact that one of the parts of the said coupling is moved for the purpose of its engagement with the other by at least a movement of the actuating member distinct from a simple rotation aboutits axis, the said other part being secured to an element movable by rotation of the actuating member when the latter has first been subjected to a movement producing the engagement of the two parts ofthe coupling, and by the fact that the movement of this element produces the movement against a resilient action of the movable part of the unlocking device, in such a manner as to produce the release of the cover.

Some forms of construction of the lighter are shown diagrammatically and by way of example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a partial view of a lighter according to a first form of construction, some parts of its walls being broken away so as to show the mechanical connection connecting the actuating member to the movable part of the locking device of the cover.

Fig. 2 is a partial view of the lighter shown in Fig. 1, some parts of its walls being broken away, so as to show the mechanical connection connecting the actuating member to the friction wheel.

Fig. 3 is a view in section on the line III-III of Fig. 1, the actuating member being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a partial view with parts broken away of a second form of construction of the lighter.

Fig. 5 is a view with parts broken away of a third form of construction of the lighter.

Fig. 6 is a partial view in section.

Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view, with parts broken away, of the lighter according to a fourth form of construction.

of the lighter being broken away.

Fig. 9 is a partial view in section of a modified. form of construction of the lighter according to Figs. 7 and 8.

In the form of construction according to Figs. 1 to 3, the lighter is provided with a body I enclosing a receptacle R. The upper wall 12 of the receptacle is surmounted by two walls 3 extending the two wide side faces of the receptacle and between which are mounted the mechanical members of the lighter. On a spindle 5 is pivoted an arm 6 carrying a cover 1 provided with an extinguisher 8 which fits over the end. of the burner 9. This arm is subjected to the action of a spring I!) tending to maintain the cover in the open position. A locking device holds the cover in the closed position (position shown in the drawing) against the action of the spring H).

The locking device is provided with a locking member or pin ll secured to the cover and with a latch lever 12 oscillating on a pivot I4 and subjected to the actionof a spring [3. The lever 12 is provided with a beak l5 heldin en gagement with the pin spring [3.

A friction wheel [6, against which applied a H by the action of the} pyrophoric element (not shown) by a pressure device of known type, is pivoted on a spindle H. The friction wheel is connected by a gear train i8, i9, 20 to a rotatable actuating or control member 2|. The latter is fixed rigidly to a spindle 22 of which the ends each engage with an opening 23, each provided in one ofthe wings of a support S located between the lateral walls 3. These openings are inclined relatively to the upper face 2 of the receptacle R. A spring 26 tends to hold the spindle 22 in contact with the endsof the openings 23 the most remote from the burner 9. The actuating member 25 is connect--v ed mechanically to the lever [2 by transmission members comprising:

a. an intermediate lever 25 pivoted on a spindle 26 and of which one of the ends co-opera tes with a heel 21 of the lever l2.

1). a coupling of which one of the parts is formedlbya milled, portion 2950f the spindle 22, whilst the second part is formed by the front face 28, of the second end of the intermediate lever 25.-

As shown in thedrawing, the gear train l8, I9, 20 is located in a space C1 provided between one of the wings of the support S and one of the walls 3,;whilst. the mechanical members connecting the actuating member to the movable part of the locking deviceare located in a space C2 provided between the second wing of the support S and the, second wall 3.

Thusthese mechanicalmembers are located in casingsclosed in, all parts, and are thus protected from dust.

, The operation of the lighter described is as follows;

Intheclosed position of. the cover, the members, occupy the positions shown in Figs. 1 to 3. In order to effect the opening of the cover and thelighting of, the'lighter, it sufiices to. apply a push ontheactuating memberandyto impart to thelatter a, movement of rotation in a counterclockwise. direction. In fact the push applied to the actuating member produces amovement of the spindle 22v along theopenings 23.against the action of thespring 24 and the. engagement of the.two parts of the coupling 28,- 29- The rotation of. the actuating member then produces:

1. An angular movement oftheintermediate lever 25v drivenby friction. The latter acts on the lever I2 against theaction of its spring. l3 andlproduces-the disengagement of the two parts of the locking device and the releaseof the cover 1 which opens under the action of its spring- Iii.

2; The setting in rotation of the friction-wheel by means of the gear train [8, 19, 2c and the projection of sparks which ignitethe gases escaping from the burner.

. 'Iheopeningposition of the cover is defined by a finger 39 secured to the arm of this, coming into contact with a stop 3! secured to, the intermediate lever 25 of which the amplitude of oscillation is limited bythe. face 32 of the lever l2 coming intocontact with the wall 2 ofthe receptacleR. For this latter position of the intermediate lever 25, the two parts ZB and. 25.,of the couplingareno longer in contact with one anothensothatthe spindle 22 may turn freely in e bot mpf e inc ed p n whereby premature ,7 wear of thesurfaces '28 and 29' is obviated.

From the foregoing and examination of the drawingitwill be seen readily that the risk. of acgldental opening of thecoyer isrendercdvery improbable and practically impossible by reason 9 the factthatifo iproducine this. openineit is necessary to apply two distinct actions on the actuating members.

Nevertheless the control of the functioning of the lighter depends on great simplicity, because these two actions can be applied by the thumb.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 4, the mechanical connection connecting the actuating member to the movable part of the locking device for the cover is similar to that described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.

On the contrary, the operating member is formed by a lever 33 secured to the spindle 22. The mechanical connection between the actuating member and the friction wheel [6 comprises a link 34 hinged at one end to the said actuating member andat the other end to a driving member 35 pivoted freely on the spindle ll of the friction wheel. This driving member 35 carries a resilient actuating member 36 co-operating with teeth 3'1 cut into one of the front faces. of the. friction wheel. This finger 36 and the teeth 31 constitutev the two parts of a coupling with a one Way drive The arm 5 carrying the cover I is pivotedon;

the spindle 5 and subjected to the action of the spring iii tending to produce opening of the cover.

The operation of this second form of construction of lighter is similar to that describedwith reference to the lighter shown in Figs. 1 to- 3.- In fact a push applied to the actuating member. imparts to the latter:

1. a first movement which produces the engagement of the two parts of the coupling 28, 29:

2. then a rotation about the spindle 22;a rotation which, by means of this coupling, produces actuation of the lever 25 releasing the cover, and

the actuation of the friction wheel through the medium of the link 34, the driving member 35 and the coupling 35,- 37.

In this case again it is necessary to impart two separate movements to the actuating member for producing the opening of the cover I.

The lighter shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is provided with an actuating member formed by avertical milled wheel 38 placed into a recess .39 provided in the body of the lighter. The friction wheel "ii is secured to a spindle ii passing through the milled wheel along its axis of rotation. spindle IT has a trunnion 48 having a cross sec; tionof polygonal shape engaging with, an axial bore 4! of corresponding shape, A. spring 54 seated in the said bore 4! and bearing against a shoulderfiZ of this seating at one end and against a shoulder 43 of the spindle Hf at the.

other end, tends to hold the milled member in the position shown in Fig. 6.

The cover i ispheld in the closed position by a lever 44 hinged at it on thecover and provided with a beak 47 held, by a spring 58, in engagement. with a pin ill secured to the body of the lighter. The mechanical connection connecting the actue.

ating member to the movable part of this locking,

vided inthe front upper face of the milled mem her. The second part, of this coupling is-formed by the rear face 5! ofthelbeak 41.,

A heel 52, of the lever Git-coming intocontact.

with the bottomwall 5,3,..of, the coverlimits the,

amplitude of the angular movement ofthisleven The .operation of the .lightershown in Figs; ,5. and}; pi the accompanying ;.drawing extremely simple. In fact for producing the opening of the cover and the lighting of the lighter, it suffices to set the milled wheel in rotation by applying to this an axial thrust producing the engagement of the two parts of the coupling 50, 5| against the action of the spring 54. On examination of the drawing it will be seen readily that these two actions applied to the milled wheel produce on the one hand the actuation of the lever 44 against the action of its spring and the release of the two parts of the locking device, and on the other hand the actuation of the milled wheel.

In the form of construction of the lighter shown in Figs. '7 and 8, a vertical milled wheel 55 is movable radially. For this purpose, the milled wheel is secured rigidly to the spindle I! of the friction wheel which is pivoted with clearance in the wall 2. In fact, as shown in Fig. '7, the bore 56 provided in the wall 2 and traversed by the spindle IT, has an ovalised cross section allowing of movements of the spindle along one of its diametral planes.

As in the form of construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the cover 1 is held in the closed position by a beak 41 secured to a lever 44 hinged to the cover at 46 and held in engagement with a pin 49 by a spring 48.

The mechanical connection connecting the actuating member to the movable part of the locking device is provided with an arm 51 hinged at 45 to a Wall 2 and of which the ends act on the lever 44 against the action of the spring 48. The arm is provided with a notch 58 which forms one of the parts of the coupling inserted in the mechanical connection connecting the actuating member to the lever 44. The second part of the coupling is formed by a milled section 59 of the spindle ll.

Thus, when the user applies a push to the actuating member enabling a movement of rotation to be imparted thereto, it produces the engagement of the two parts of the coupling 58, 59. Then, the rotation of the actuating member produces an angular movement of the arm 51 and the actuation of the lever 44 against the action of its spring 48 and the release of the cover.

Normally, when the user does not apply a push to the actuating member, this is returned to the position shown in the drawing by the push applied by. the pyrophoric element p on the friction wheel Hi, this element being subjected to the action of a spring 1" and the push applied by the pyrophoric element tending to hold the two parts of the couplin in the disengaged position shown in the drawing.

Fig. 9 shows a modified form of construction of the lighter shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in which the actuating member is formed by a milled member 60 movable axially along the spindle H of the milled member. The spindle is provided with a section 6| of polygonal cross section engaging with a seating 62 of corresponding shape provided axially in the milled member. A spring 63 located in an axial housing 64 of the milled member bears at one end against a shoulder 65 of the spindle l1 and at the other end against the bottom 65 of the said housing 64. This spring tends to hold the milled member 60 in the position shown in the drawing, for which a projection 61 of the milled member is engaged in a recess 68 of the wall 2.

In this modified form of construction, the mechanical connection connecting the actuating member to the movable part of the locking device for the cover is in all respects similar to that described with reference to Figs. '7 and 8.

In order to effect the opening of the cover, it is necessary to impart three separate movements to the actuating member:

1. To move the milled member 60 axially against the action of the spring 63, in order to disengage the projection 61 from the recess 68.

2. To produce the oscillation of the milled member 60 up to the position shown in chain dotted lines in Fig. 9, in order to bring the two parts of the coupling 58, 59 into engagement.

3. To impart a movement of rotation to the milled member 30, in order to actuate the arm 51 and to provoke the disengagement of the two parts of the locking device and the release of the cover.

In this modification, the projection 61 engaging with the recess 68 constitutes a bolt preventing the engagement of the two parts of the coupling 58, 59.

From the foregoing and by examination oi the drawing, it is easy to see that the accidental opening of the cover is rendered practically impossible, by reason of the fact that for producing the opening ofthe cover, it is necessary to impart to the actuating member three separate successive movements.

I claim:

1. In a lighter, the combination, comprising, a body element having an opening at the top, a cover element hinged to the body element and movable from a closing to an open position, a spring urging the cover to open position, a locking member mounted on one of the elements, another locking member movably mounted on the other element and engageable with the first looking member and then holding the cover closed, a second spring urging the other locking member to a certain position, a friction wheel rotatable in the body element, a control member driving the friction wheel and mounted on the body element from movement from an inoperative to operative position, coupling means mounted on the body element in a position disengaged from the control member when in operative position and engageable by the control member after movement of same to its operative position and upon rotation of the control member disengaging the locking members to move the cover element to open position. i

2. The combination according to claim 1 and also comprising resilient means urging the control member to inoperative position.

3. The combination according to claim 2 and wherein the control member includes a spindle actuating the coupling means by its rotation.

4. The combination according to claim 3 and wherein the other locking member constitutes a latch lever fulcrumed on the body element and the first locking member is a pin on the cover element and engaged by the latch lever.

5. In a lighter, the combination, comprising, a body element having an opening at the top, a cover element hinged to the body element and movable from a closing to an open position, a spring urging the cover to open position, a looking member mounted on one of the elements. another locking member movably mounted on the other element and engageable with the first locking member and then holding the cover closed, a second spring urging the other locking member to a certain position, a friction wheel rotatable in the body element, a gear train driving the friction wheels, a control member driving theeear and. mm dn h o y elem t for movement, from; inoperative to operative-posh. tion,; coupling; ,mean .engageable by the control member-aftermovement of same toits operative position and upon rotation of: the control member.--.d i sengaging;the;locking members to move the cover: element to open position.

6. Ina -lighter,thecombination, comprising, a body; element-having an opening at the top, a cover. elementhinged; to the; body elementand movable from a closingtoyan open position, ,a spring; u ging-the cover to open positiorra lookingmembermountedon one of the elements, another; locking member movably mounted on the; other element and; engageable with the first locking; member and then. holding the cover closed, a second spring urging the otheplocking member toe; certain position, av friction wheel rotatable thebody element, a vertically disposed-control member coaxialwith anddriving the friction Wheel and mounted in; the body elementior movement from inoperative. position, coupling means mounted on the body-element in a,-.position disengaged from the-control member whengin operative position and engageable by the-control member aftei movement of same to itsaoperativelposition and uponrotation ofthe control member disengaging the locking members to move the cover element to open position.

7. .The.combinationeccording to claim. 6 and whereinthepontrol member. is. axially movable andfurthercomprising a-spring urging thecontrol. member to inoperative position.

8. 311hecombination according to claim 7 and hereinthe coupling. means is constituted by a washer; on. .the control. member having ,a high coefficient .of, friction and engaging the other lockin member to, disengage same from the first lockin 1 member,

9 ..;I n. a lighter, the combination, comprising, a body.elementhaving an opening at the top, a cover element hinged to the body element and movable. from a .closing to .anopen position, a spring} urgingthe cover, toopen position, a lock;- ing men ber. mounted on .one of the. elements, another. locking member movablymounted on the other-element and engageable with the first locking; member and. then holding the cover closed, A a, secondv springurging the other locking member toa, certainposition, a friction wheel rotatable in the body element, anvertically disposed control ,member: rigid with the friction wheel; and movable at right angles to its 1011551.- tudinal axis in the body. element from inoperative li -operative position, a. coupling arm fulcrumed upon the;body element. and engageable by thecontrolmember and swung by the rotation thereoi said arm. onbeing swungengaging the locking member.movably-mounted on the other element to; disengage the locking members,

10.. In; a .lighter the combination comprising, a body element having an openingat the top, a cover .elementhinged; to the body element and movablerfrom a closing. to an open position, a spring urging the cover to open position, a locking pin; mounted-,on onev of, the elements, a locking,

latch e r; o y mou t d, on. the; other elee ment andengageable with, the locking pinand then holding, the cover. closed,,a second spring urging the locking latch lever to a certain position, a, friction wheel rotatable in the body ele-. ment, a control member driving the friction wheel and mounted on the body element for movement from an inoperative to operative position and including a spindle, a couplinglever fulcrumed on the body element and including a part, engaged by the spindle. of the control member after movement thereof to its operative position and another part engaging .the latch lever and upon rotation of the control member disengaging the latch lever to move the cover element, to open position, and resilient means urging the control member to inoperative position.

11. In a lighter; the combination, comprising, a'body open at the topand having side openings, a cover hinged to the body and movable from a closed to an open position, a. spring urging, the cover to open position, a fixed locking member mounted on the cover, a movable lockin member pivotally supported on the body and engageable with the fixed looking memberto hold the cover closed, a second spring urgingthe movable looking member normally to locked position with reference-to said pin, a friction Wheel rotatable on the body, a control member for rotating the friction wheel and having horizontal axis .slid-. abie in said side openings in the body, aithird spring normally urging the axis of the control member into engagement with one end of the side openings of the body, anda coupling arm fulcrumed on the body and. engageable at one end with the axis of the control member after the latter has been shifted in said side openings, whereby upon completion of the shifting and-rotation of the control member the said arm.may be swung to cause thedisengagement of the said fixed and movable locking members.

12. The combination according, to claim, .11, wherein, the body element has a recess .and. the controlmember has a reduced'portionfitting the recess under the. force of said third spring.

LEON BOLLE..

REFERENCES CITED The .following references. are .of 'IBCOIdfinthG file. of this-patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

